it for the masses by dr t.h.chowdary * director, center for telecom management & studies *...
TRANSCRIPT
IT for the Masses
By
Dr T.H.Chowdary
* Director, Center for Telecom Management & Studies* Chairman, Pragna Bharati (Intellect India), AP
* Former Information Technology Adviser, Government of A.PChairman & Managing Director
Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd., Bombay
T: +91 (40) 2784-6137/5567-1191(O) F: +91 (40) 2789-6103/5567-1111 (O)
Talk@ NIRD , Hyd : 31 Jan 2009
Vision to inspire & Realise the Potential of Inventions/Discoveries
We will produce electricity so cheap that only the rich can afford to burn candles”
- Thomas Alva Edison: 1878
Ghar Ghar mein radio
Gaon Gaon mein telephone - 1978
(A radio in every home; a telephone in every village
We will make telephoning cheaper than a post card) “We will make telephoning cheaper than a post card” - 1994
Haath Haath mein telephone
Gaon Gaon mein Internet
(A telephone in everyone’s hand: an Internet kiosk in every village)
-Dr T.H.CHOWDARY – 1997
to bridge the digital divide.
IT for the Masses
Ford's Model “T” production belt car affordable to many revolutionised personal transportSteam engine on rails - A new transportation systemThe printing Press in the year 1439 by Gutenberg Dissemination of knowledge Libraries to bridge the knowledge divide
IT for the Masses
Knowledge, the empowerer Education,
the leveller
reducer of inequality How masses & not the elite only benefit Dissemination of Science & Technology
Masses & Classes
Masses: Uneducated or less educated Rural People Urban Labouring (manual) people
Classes Educated, well-salaried Businessmen Professionals (knowledge workers) Ruling Circles (Politicians), govt officials, industrialists,
Bankers Security & Defence people
ICTs have Accomplished (1)
Death of distance [Earth is Flat by Thomas Friedman]
Postalisation of tariffs Democratisation of knowledge [www & Internet] Prospect of Participatory [and not
representative] democracy (as in Athens in ancient times)
THC_CTMS S373_Feb'08 7
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Sou
rce:
Ang
us M
addi
son;
J.P
.Mor
gan
World GDP per Person, 1000=100
S & T for Wealth Creation
THC_CTMS S373_Feb'08 8
World Population and the Poor
Year Population % of the Poor1820 1.1 billion 85%1980 5 billion 30%2000 6 billion 20%2007 6.5 bln 18%
THC_CTMS S373_Feb'08 9
What are ICT Technologies (1)
Dematerialisation of information – Electronification, digitisation, paketisation, compression, storage, (solid state devices – CDs, Pen drives, Memory, Web-sites
Transportation Telecom NetworksOptical fibersMicrowave Radio-Terrestrial, Satellite
THC_CTMS S373_Feb'08 10
What are ICT Technologies (2) Computers-Mind
Search Retrieval Operating Systems Organise Arrange ( sort) Control Transmission
THC_CTMS S373_Feb'08 11
What are ICT Technologies (3) Devices to seek & display information
Key boards Monitors Printers Telephones
THC_CTMS S366_Dec'07 12
PCI
AX TSP
Time
(a) Affordability
A PCI/ Tele-Service Price- PCI: Per Capita Income- TSP: Telephone Service Price- A: Affordability
Bring down price to increase affordability
Telecom Connectivity (1)
Technology and Competition brought down costs by over 80% and prices nearly by 90%
Rural demand for telephones exceeding urban demand First phones people have are mobiles Wireless deployed for last kilometer connectivity Cable TV allowed for broad band
Telecom Connectivity (2)
Spend on phone is less than 12% of per capita income (compared to 250% in 1951, and equal in 1994 ) it has to come down to less than 5% to be on par with developed countries
Mobiles exceed fixed telephones; Hardly any growth in fixed phones; Growth in mobile phones WiFi and WiMax being deployed
Development
Economic: Family Income Old Age Pensions Insurance
Life, Health, Work
Human: Health Longevity Education Quality of Life ( air, water, leisure, communion…) Stable Family Stress
Affordability of Electronic Devices:Ratio of Price of Device to Per Capita Income
1951 1974 1994 2007
Radio 2.0 0.5 0.02 0.005
TV Set NA 1.9 1.2 0.37
Year’s Telephone Service
2.5 1.0 1.0 0.12
PC NA NA 6.0 0.75
Urbanisation & Development
Rural Population Developed Developing
( 5 to 10)% (50 to 70)%
Contribution of
Agriculture to GDP < 5% (20 to 50)%*
% Labour engaged
in Agri-related work < 5% upto 60
*15% in China and 18% in India
Urban/Rural Incomes in India
72% of population is Rural; 65% of workforce in Agriculture
Contribution of Ag to GDP-18% PCI of Rural people $ 140 (Rs. 6,800) PCI of Urban people $ 1070 (Rs. 51,000) What a disparity? In China disparity is even more Economic Development –Moral Consequences
In the Information/Knowledge-Intensive Age &Societies
Information is power and opportunity Extended markets/global reach
vendors/traders/consumers Marketisation of all activity Less transaction costs Work from anywhere over Telecoms Illiterate, but industrious masses are also
voters, skilled & producers of value
Reaching the Masses
Connectivity: Capital cost of Road: $ 300/600,000 per km. Optical Fiber or
Photonic highways : $ 6000/ 10,000 per km.
50 times cheaper to connect photonically 35000 towns connected by broad band OF system 94% of 650,000 villages telephoned
ICTs have Accomplished
Empowerment of even the small man to influence govt. [Chief Minister face to face with people]
Getting govt to account – Transparency [govt at the door step of people]
Masses, rural folks, artisans, women drawn into economic activity – DWACRA – global markets for folk works.
ICTs Comprise of
(Obsolete): Telegraph, telex, Fax? Current: Telephones (mobiles: 3.5 bln & fixed phones 1.5 bln)
PCs; Laptops; Internet GPS.GIS; TV [Over the air & cable] Radio [digital, FM] LANs, WANs, MANs,-Wifi; WiMAX Email Optical Fiber Cable [undersea & underground] Microwave Radio: Satellite & Terrestrial
THC_CTMS S366_Dec'07 23
Exploitation of ICTs
Survival/Thriving of the fitted Education/skills Digital divide Inequality if all are not enabled to use ICTs If driving is not learnt what is the use of the car Removal complexity from interfaces devices Compute education for all – class VI onwards “Reskilling” the elders like adult education
THC_CTMS S366_Dec'07 24
Internet
Network of networks of information, globally interconnected. It is library, market place, broad-cast station, polling booth; auction house, newspaper, stock exchange, employment exchange, marriage bureau.
Accessible not only from PCs, laptops, palm-helds, cell phones, wirelessly ( riding on roads, sailing on seas,)
THC_CTMS S366_Dec'07 25
Applications of IT (1)
e-governance e-commerce e-banking e-mail e-libraries e-tendering e-registrations e-land records e-learning e-public opinion polls e-balloting e-examinations e-rail reservations e-ticketing
THC_CTMS S366_Dec'07 26
Applications of IT (2)
e-seva e-Bill payments
e-money transfers e-share trading e-causelists in Courts e-whistle blowing e-town-halls e-advocacy Video conferencing Govt at peoples doorsteps e-transparency Central Vigilance Commissioner
ICTs for Farmers (1) Coromandel Fertilisers – “Outreach”
Regd. Sugarcane farmers Centered around Sugarcane Command Area in Nellikuppam
Cuddalore Dist. Information from Franchised kiosks
(Parry’s Corners) India Agriline Farmer’s Forum Comprehensive Farming Services Covers paddy also since 2002 Nagarjuna Fertilisers EID Parry & Coromandel Fertilisers
ICTs for Farmers & Fishermen (2)
Nellikuppam / Pondicherry -
EID Parry / Coromandel Fertilizers; and Nagarjuna Fertilizers, Services to Agriculturists
Kerala Fishermen’s use of cell phones
GPS & Remote Sensing guides Fishermen where to fish & unload the catch
ICTs for Farmers (3) ITC’s e-Chaupals
Procurement of soya-beans directly from the farmer 6,500 chaupals in 8 States, serving 40,000 villages in MP,
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh & Utteranchal & under extension to 11 more States
1000 chaupals connected by V-Sats; rest wireline ITC invested Rs.460 mil ( US $ 12 ml.) The chaupal is operated by a trusted, selected farmer
instructed, in operation of the PC with a modem, V-Sat with a solar panel and a battery backup
Growth & procurement of soybeans, coffee, wheat, rice, pulses, shirmp
ICTs for Farmers (4) ITC’s e-Chaupals
For ITC 2% saving; the Sanchalak gets 0.5% of sales All information in the local language in the company’s
website in Bangalore ITC Infotech In AP of the 175 chaupals 100 relate to tobacco and
75 to acqua ( shrimp) concern
Now collaborating with govts to deliver other services [eg.e-sevas in AP; micro credit, insurance, health & education]
ICTs for Rural Populace (1)
Education: Computer skill integral to literacy/ education for all (AP, KN,TN…)
Extend Internet to all villages. Upgrade public telephones into Internet Kiosks
Educated & trained attendant Deliver G2C; B2C services Andhra Pradesh project: 5000 villages
Tele-medicine (1)
Bill Clinton and Aragonda School children in Aragonda screened - 34 had
a hole in the heart. Dr. Seshagiri Rao: “ Your daughter has a hole
in the heart. Send her to us during the vacation. We will fix this and when the school reopens she can join back”.
ICTs for Rural Populace (2)
Tele-medicine (1)
Bill Clinton and Aragonda School children in Aragonda screened - 34 had
a hole in the heart. Dr. Seshagiri Rao: “ Your daughter has a hole
in the heart. Send her to us during the vacation. We will fix this and when the school reopens she can join back”.
ICTs for Rural Populace (2)
ICTs for Women
DWCRA groups in Andhra Pradesh
About 350,000 cell phones for the groups
Product advertisement & market creation Websites (Toys, knit wear, lace curtains, ornaments, painting…)
Tele-education.
Internet & E-Seva into Villages (AP)
Upgrade STD/ISD VPTs into Public Internet Kiosks Rs. 50,000/- per kiosk ($120)
Rural Service Delivery Points e-sevas available in all towns Land Records, Property taxes; B & D
certificates
ICTs for E-Governance
• Improving efficiency,economy, effectiveness, transparency & responsiveness; simple interface with citizens• G2C government services to citizens and interactionEg: Andhra Pradesh ; E-Seva, CARD, FAST, C-COPS, SMART-Gov; E-Procurement E-Seva: > 48 services, all together from any of the centers (118 towns + 5000 villages Addl. 24,000)
Work taken to Villages:GramIT (1)
While US, EU, Oceania outsource to Hyderabad, Hyderabad out-sources to villages.
Satyam Computers & Byraju Foundation 200 Resident village graduates ( BA, B.Com, B.Sc)
trained in Ameringlish; imparted computer & Internet skills
Satyam (Hyderabad HQ) outsourced its own internal work (pay-roll, accounting; travel; training; MIS
Satisfied,work from abroad moved to villages
Work taken to Villages: GramIT (2) Broad-band telecom (optical fiber) 512 kbps extended
from point of presence (POP) to work-site by PMP wireless
Called Gram ITs, these offer transaction processing services (accounting, bulk mlng; records digitisation, reminder and follow-up and travel support).
A whole Gram IT can be dedicated to a customer (like twinning of cities across continents; city [email protected] twinning)
Work taken to Villages: GramIT Broad-band telecom (optical fiber) 512 kbps extended
from point of presence (POP) to work-site by PMP wireless
Called Gram ITs, these offer transaction processing services (accounting, bulk mlng; records digitisation, reminder and follow-up and travel support).
A whole Gram IT can be dedicated to a customer (like twinning of cities across continents; city [email protected] twinning)
Work taken to Villages: GramIT (3)
Gram IT-team contributed part of profits for village development scheme designed by them – Independent and local initiative
Rural Pressure group to demand and get quality infrastructure and services such as roads, retailing, education, health
Social Impact of Gram IT
Reverse migration ( 5% within 6 months) Educated house-wives (lost resource) join
work force (no travel)-20% now Un-married girls: better spouses
Social Impact of Gram IT
Reverse migration ( 5% within 6 months) Educated house-wives (lost resource) join
work force (no travel)-20% now Un-married girls: better spouses
E M R I (1)
502 ambulances stationed in 50 towns, in all the State’s Districts
80 mln people access EMRI through 108 100,000 emergencies attended & 20,000 lives
saved in launch five years ago 95% of calls answered within 2 rings 16 mnts to reach a victim
E M R I (2)
A Satyam computer funded Byraju Foundation launched, operated & maintained emergency health/medical service
Depends upon wireless, computers & networks Agreements with hundreds of private &
government hospitals
E M R I (3)
Police & Doctors at the Central office in Hyderabad
Accident & Disease mapping Govt “owns” & other govts want Example of corporate service to citizens with
government co-operation HMRI (CODE 104) Health advice & care
The Various Divides
Urban-Rural The Rich-Poor Educated-Illiterate Landed-Landless Protected Water; Houses; Electricity Telephone - (the Missing Link)
The Digital Divide
Policies (1)Forging the Missing Link
The Maitland Commission
(ITU/UNDP 1984)
India’s Response
The attended public telephone (PT)
80% of 650,000 villages have STD/ISD PTs
98% of the 1000 mil. People have access to telephone
Policies (2) Forging the Missing Link (2)
The attended public telephone (PT)
- Illiteracy no bar, because of educated attendant; self-
employed, living by commission
- 1.2 mil PTs in India (40% in villages; 60% in towns
- 30% of telephone revenues from PTs!
- Tele-density 25% (4% fixed 21% mobile)
- Yet No disability for any
Policies (3)Bridging the Digital Divide (1)
IT & Internet for Classes & Masses too
Upgrade PTs into public Internet Kiosks
Investment/PT - US $ 1000
Internet connection - Access by
a) DSL wherever available
b) WLL (corDECT, CDMA)
c) Copper wireloops, WiFi, WiMax
Universal Access Fund (UAF) & Provision (1)
5% of sales of all Telcos UAF Administrator Bids for provision
Award Criterion - Lowest Annuity Payment Village PTs & Public Internet Kiosks Radio Base stations (RBSs) to cover rural areas
funded by USF & allowed to be shared Rural mobile phone coverage subsidised from USF
Universal Access Fund (UAF) & Provision (2)
Telephone/Internet in schools, Public Libraries,
Primary Health Centers
IP/VOIP Telephony, Tele-medicine
Private Philanthropy Foundations eg. Byrraju
Foundation, Hewlett Packard - AP
Bridging the Digital Divide (2)
STD/ISD Attendants become retailers of BSNL/P-Telco
Training in Computer skills/surfing, scanning, e-mailing imparted
Multi-service delivery
e-mail, e-seva (32 G2C in Andhra Pradesh; 118 cities & 6000 villages (rural service delivery points); e-governance
As kiosks are equipped with Fax & scanners language no bar – post declining
Computer Education in 2000 schools from 2005 (age 10 to 14) in A.P (Tamilnadu, Karnataka have more)
Bridging the Digital Divide (2)
STD/ISD Attendants become retailers of BSNL/P-Telco
Training in Computer skills/surfing, scanning, e-mailing imparted
Multi-service delivery
e-mail, e-seva (32 G2C in Andhra Pradesh; 118 cities & 6000 villages (rural service delivery points); e-governance
As kiosks are equipped with Fax & scanners language no bar – post declining
Computer Education in 2000 schools from 2005 (age 10 to 14) in A.P (Tamilnadu, Karnataka have more)
